TALLAHASSEE – Ridgeview High jumpers Jaden Roy and Jacolbi Sampson finished within inches of the top seeds in their respective track events; high jump and triple jump, as the region 1-2A and region …
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TALLAHASSEE – Ridgeview High jumpers Jaden Roy and Jacolbi Sampson finished within inches of the top seeds in their respective track events; high jump and triple jump, as the region 1-2A and region 2-2A track championships put a handful of area track athletes into the May 3-4 Class 2A championships to be held at the University of North Florida.
“Both of them can improve that little bit more for higher and longer jumps at state with a little bit of focus,” said Ridgeview coach Al Nesi. “Jaden has the tools to get to 6’-6” if he stays in form all the way through. Jacolbi is such an athlete if he hits his steps all the way on the run-up, he gets two more feet. We are teaching more mental tenacity with both athletes.”
For Keystone Heights, competing in the region 2-2A championships, distance ace Alex Guy came home with two tickets to the state meet after disappointing region finishes last year.
Ridgeview, Clay and Keystone Heights compete in Class 2A with the likes of powerhouse track programs from Bolles and Bishop Kenny.
Roy, a six-foot-six jumper for the Panthers, who took a season of cross country running to better his high jump endurance, finished a strong third at the region 1-2A championships with a 6’-3.5” leap behind a 6’-5.5” winning leap. Roy’s region mark has him seeded eighth in 2A with two jumpers on top with 6’-7”, three at 6’-5” and 12 jumpers with Roy at 6’-3.5”.
“His stamina out there is much better,” said Nesi. “People don’t know how energy sapping standing around and waiting to jump is. The cross country has really helped him to improve.”
Sampson, the triple jump champion in the district championships, improved to 46’-0” inches at regions to advance after winning districts at 42’-9.5”. Sampson, who hit his 46-foot jump on his last jump, was just 1.5 inches off the top mark of Menendez’ Tristan Willis who is seeded tied for best jump at 46’-1.5”.
“Jacolbi has left up to two feet on the runway,”said Nesi. “If he hits the board dead on, he adds his speed and power to his jump and doesn’t lose distance. That makes for long jumps.”
For Keystone Heights’ Guy, a junior, a 4:32.36 time in the 1600 edged out Tavares’ Dalton Brown for fourth place by just .02 seconds.
“We knew a 4:30 1600 was needed to get to state,” said Keystone Heights coach Richard Bland. “He showed some grit.”
In the 800, Guy hit a strong 1:59.37, one of his best career times, to take second behind Brown who won in 1:57.47.
In the state seeds, Guy’s 800 finish gets him a 14th rank while his 1600 puts him at 20th. The top seed in the 800 is 1:55.71 while a 4:14.26 tops the 1600 with four runners under 4:20.
From Clay, making the state Plus 8 lists were; in discus, Kelly Catlett (6th at regions, 17th seed);
Region finishers for Clay were; in triple jump, Jared Glisson (13th); in shot put, Tianna Nichols (9th); in 110 hurdles, Aaron Weber (9th); in 300 hurdles, Samantha Franco (9th); 4 x 100 boys (9th) and 4 x 800 boys (13th).
Region finishers for Ridgeview were, in high jump, Matt Koziolek (8th); in pole vault, Jacob Mancino (9th); in triple jump, Crystal Hunter (7th); in shot put, Grier Burrows (8th); in 110 hurdles, Joaquin Castro (13th); 4 x 100 boys (13th) and 4 x 400 girls (10th).
Region finishers for Keystone Heights were; in high jump, Jessica Yeldell (11th); in high jump, Marcus McGruder (13th); in long jump, Marcus McGruder (14th); in triple jump, Marcus McGruder (13th); in discus, Raymond Anderson (13th); in 100 hurdles, Victoria Bannon (16th); girls 4 x 400 (12th); boys 4 x 400 (9th); in 1600, Camryn Williams (6th); in 1600, Haley Phillips (10th) and, in 3200, Camryn Williams (7th).